Wrench.



No. 681,75I. Patented Sept. 3, 190|. A. H. F. STRAUS.

WRENCH.

(Applxcmion filed May 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Uwrrf STATESfPATrnTLQrnSEf ALFRED II. F. STRAUB, OF LACENTER,WASHINGTON.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,751, datedSeptember 3, 1901. Application filed May 29, 1901. Serial No. 62,368.(No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. F. STRAUB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lacenter, in the county of Clarke and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench which is simple ofconstruction, inexpensive of production, efficient in use, andquick-acting, and one in which the sliding jaw is adapted to be operatedby the hand grasping the wrench-handle, thereby doing away with thenecessity of employing both hands to hold and adjust the wrench.

With this and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the invention consists of lcertainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly set forthin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a wrenchconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the operating-lever. Fig. 4is a perspective view of one of the eccentric levers. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the spring plate and fingers, and Fig. 6 is an endelevation of the dog.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral lrepresents the shank or stock of the wrench, provided at one end with ahandle 2 and at its other end with a fixed jaw 3 and having its upperedge or surface formed with a continuous series of ratchet-teeth 4.

5 represents the sliding jaw of the wrench, which is fitted on the shankl and is formed with a slot 6, in which is mounted a pivoted dog 7,which straddles the shank and is provided with a point or detent 8 tocooperate with the ratchet-teeth 4 to hold the said sliding jaw 5 inadjusted position. In the sides of the sliding jaw 5, in rear of theslot 6, are formed grooves or recesses 9, in which are slidably fittedtwo eccentric levers l0, pivoted on a pin or bolt 1l and formed withangularly-projecting lugs or contact-pieces l2. An operating-lever 13 ispivoted at its forward end on the pin ll between the said two eccentriclevers l0 and is formed upon the under side of its said forward end withteeth 14 to engage the ratchet-teeth 4. On the upper surface of theoperating-lever are also provided shoulders l5, which when said lever isdepressed to operate the sliding jaw come in contact with the saidangular lugs 12 on the eccentric levers l0 and move the same to slidethe jaw 5 in the manner hereinafter described. To the upper surface ofthe sliding jaw 5 and at a point between the slot 6 and groove 9 isrigidly secured a plate l5', formed of spring metal and having twoforwardlyprojecting resilient fingers 16 and a single centralrearwardly-projecting finger 17. The said fingers 16 and 17 are formedby slitting the plate 15 longitudinally upon opposite Vsides of thecenter and bending downward the sides thereof to form the fingers 16 andrearward the central portion thereof to form the linger 17. The fingers16 extend forwardly and downwardly and enter the slot 6 on oppositesides of the shank l of the wrench and bear against the side arms of thedog 7 to hold said dog normally tilted forward with its teeth 8 inengagement with the rack-teeth 4. The teeth 4 incline forwardly, andwhen the tooth 8 is in engagement therewith rearward motion of thesliding jaw 5 is prevented, while said jaw is free to move forward asthe tooth during such motion of the jaw slides over the rack-teeth 4.The Lipper surface of the dog 7 is milled to form a thumb-piece, wherebythe dog may be moved to a vertical position against the tension of thespringfingers I6 to withdraw the tooth 8 from engagementwith theratchet-teeth 4 and adapt the jaw 5 to be moved backward on the shank l.The spring-finger 17 projects rearwardly and bears upon the forward endof the operating-1everl3,between the shoulders 15 thereon, and tends tothrow the rear or free end of said lever outward.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to slide the jaw 5toward the jaw 3, the handle 2 of the wrench and the lever 13 aregrasped within the hand of the operator and IOO said lever 13 depressed,so as to bring the teeth 14 thereon into engagement with theratchetteeth 4. This action of the lever also brings the shoulder 15into engagement with the angular lugs 12 on the eccentric levers 10,which under the downward motion of the lever 13 are locked to said leverto operate therewith. By this means when the teeth 14 engage theratchet-teeth 4 the fulcrurn-point of the lever 13 is shifted from thepivot l1 to the center of the toothed surface 14,whereby as said lever13 continues to be depressed the eccentric levers 10 will be caused toslide upward in the grooves or recesses 9 and at the same time to forcethe sliding jaw 5 forward, and this operation is repeated until said jawis' adjusted to the desired extent. As the jaw 5 moves forwardly thetooth or point 8 of the dog 7 rides over the ratchet-teeth 4 and byengaging said teeth prevents any backward movement of the sliding jawwhen the lever 13 is released. Vthen it is desired to move the jaw 5backward, the thumb or finger is engaged with the upper milled surfaceof the dog 7 and the latter pressed backward,

whereupon the tooth 8 is disengaged from the teeth 4, leaving the jaw 5free to be slid toward the handle 2.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, andadvantages of the invention will be readily understood, and it will beseen that the invention .provides a wrench which is simple,cheap, anddurable in construction,quickeacting and efli'cient in operation, and soconstructed that the sliding jaw may be adjusted toward the fixed jaw bythe hand which grasps the han-v dle 2 to operate the wrench, therebyobviating the necessity of employing both hands for this purpose.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe made within the scope of the invention without departing from thespirit or sacrificing vany of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wrench, the combination of a shank or stock having aratchet-toothed surface, a handle and a fixed jaw, a sliding jaw on saidshank, a pivot-ed dog or pawl carried by the sliding jaw to preventrearward movement thereof, pivoted eccentric levers having a slidingengagement with the sliding jaw and provided with projecting lugs,- anoperatinglever also pivoted to the jaw and provided with shoulders toengage said lugs, and a toothed surface to engage the ratchet-toothedsurface of the shank, and means for holding the dog in locking positionand projecting said lever.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a shank or stock having aratchet-'toothed surface, a handle and a fixed jaw, a sliding jaw onsaid shank, a pivoted dog or pawl carried by the sliding jaw to preventrearward movement thereof, pivoted eccentric levers having a slidingengagement with the sliding jaw and provided with projecting lugs, anoperatinglever also pivoted to the jaw and provided with shoulders toengage said lugs and a Vtoothed surface to engage the ratchet-toothedsurface ofthe shank,and a sprin g memberhaving spring-fingers actingsimultaneously on the dog to hold the latter in locking position and onthe lever to normally project said lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALFRED H. F. STRAUB.

Witnesses:

H. E. MOKENNEY, FRED MCKENNEY.

